Unit information: Religion and History of Ancient Israel in 2019/20

Unit name	Religion and History of Ancient Israel
Unit code	THRS20219
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Lindsey Davidson
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

How did ancient Israelite religion develop into Judaism? What does the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Tanakh tell us about the historical and literary landscapes of ancient Israel and Judea?

The unit introduces the historical and literary context of the Hebrew Bible in the context of ancient Israel and Judea c.1000-100 BCE. Students will be introduced to the content and challenges of the Hebrew Bible in English translation, encountering its many genres: narrative, prophecy, poetry, history, law, and wisdom. The unit explores the history of ancient Israel and Judea and critical debates in modern biblical scholarship as a basis for understanding of the Hebrew Bible. Historical and literary context will provide an appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the Bible as a profound witness to the complexity of human experience and articulations of the divine. This approach provides a strong foundation in the historical and literary study of the Bible, applicable to further studies in Judeo-Christian traditions.

This unit aims to provide an in-depth understanding of:

• the historical and literary context of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament;
• specific issues articulated in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the history of ancient Israel and Judea;
• different critical perspectives in modern scholarship on the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the history of ancient Israel and Judea;

It also aims to develop:

• appropriate skills in textual interpretation, historical analysis, and argumentation, using evidence from primary texts and secondary sources.

Students will practise their oral presentation skills by giving a 10-minute individual or 15-minute group presentation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the history of ancient Israel and Judea
2. critically evaluate specific issues articulated in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the history of ancient Israel and Judea
3. discriminate between different critical perspectives in modern scholarship on the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the history of ancient Israel and Judea
4. demonstrate skills in textual interpretation, historical analysis, and argumentation, using evidence from primary and secondary sources appropriate to level I.

Teaching Information

1x two-hour lectures per week, and 1x one-hour seminar per week.

Assessment Information

One 1000-word summative annotated bibliography (20%) [ILOs 1, 3].

One 3000-word summative word essay (80%) [ILOs 1–4].

Reading and References

• The Jewish Study Bible, eds. Berlin and Brettler, Oxford 2003.
• J.J. Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. 3rd ed., Fortress 2018.
• D.N. Freedman (ed.), Anchor Bible Dictionary (vols 1-6), Doubleday 1992.
• Chapman and Sweeney (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Cambridge 2016
• Old Testament Guides commentary series (Sheffield)
• Anchor Bible commentary series (Yale/Doubleday)